Insulated construction member

Abstract

An insulated construction member has a first wooden rail and a second wooden rail. The second wooden rail is positioned in parallel spaced relation to the first wooden rail. This parallel spaced relation creates a thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail. A series of planar wooden connectors are positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the first wooden rail and the length of the second wooden rail. Each of the planar wooden connectors extends across the thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail. A polymer insulation is positioned between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail completely filling the thermal break. The polymer insulation encapsulates the series of planar wooden connectors, with the polymer insulation being reinforced by the series of planar wooden connectors.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An insulated construction member, comprising:
 a first wooden rail having a length, a first end, a second end and at least one slotted opening oriented longitudinally along the length of the first wooden rail; 
 a second wooden rail having a length, a first end, a second end and at least one slotted opening oriented longitudinally along the length of the second wooden rail, the second wooden rail being positioned in parallel spaced relation to the first wooden rail, the parallel spaced relation creating a thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail; 
 a series of planar wooden connectors positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the first wooden rail and the length of the second wooden rail, at least one of the planar wooden connectors is hourglass shaped, each of the planar wooden connectors extending across the thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail, each of the planar wooden connectors having a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge, with the first edge engaging the at least one slotted opening in the first wooden rail and the second edge engaging the at least one slotted opening in the second wooden rail; and 
 a polymer insulation is positioned between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail completely filling the thermal break, the polymer insulation encapsulating the series of planar wooden connectors with the polymer insulation being reinforced by the series of planar wooden connectors. 
 
     
     
       2. The insulated construction member of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one slotted opening in the first wooden rail is a single slotted opening that extends between the first end and the second end of the first wooden rail and wherein the at least one slotted opening in the second wooden rail is a single slotted opening that extends between the first end and the second end of the second wooden rail. 
     
     
       3. The insulated construction member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the planar wooden connectors is made from oriented strand board (OSB). 
     
     
       4. The insulated construction member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the planar wooden connectors is made from plywood. 
     
     
       5. The insulated construction member of  claim 1 , wherein walls forming the slotted opening in the first wooden rail and walls forming the slotted opening in the second wood rail are angled outwardly and the first edge and the second edge of the planar wooden connectors have a mating inward taper. 
     
     
       6. The insulated construction member of  claim 1 , wherein each of the planar wooden connectors is hourglass shaped, which is wide at the first edge, wide at the second edge, and narrower at a middle portion thereof. 
     
     
       7. The insulated construction member of  claim 6 , wherein the middle portion having opposed side edges, each of the opposed side edges defining a concave radius. 
     
     
       8. An insulated construction member, comprising:
 a first wooden rail having a length, a first end, a second end and a single slotted opening oriented longitudinally and extending along an entirety of the length of the first wooden rail between the first end and the second end; 
 a second wooden rail having a length, a first end, a second end and a single slotted opening oriented longitudinally and extending along an entirety of the length of the second wooden rail between the first end and the second end, the second wooden rail being positioned in parallel spaced relation to the first wooden rail, the parallel spaced relation creating a thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail; 
 a series of planar wooden connectors positioned at spaced intervals along the length of the first wooden rail and the length of the second wooden rail, each of the planar wooden connectors extending across the thermal break between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail, each of the planar wooden connectors having a first edge and a second edge opposed to the first edge, with the first edge engaging the slotted opening in the first wooden rail and the second edge engaging the slotted opening in the second wooden rail, each of the planar wooden connectors is hourglass shaped, which is wide at the first edge, wide at the second edge, and narrower at a middle portion thereof, the middle portion having opposed side edges, with each of the opposed side edges defining a concave radius; and 
 a polymer insulation is positioned between the first wooden rail and the second wooden rail completely filling the thermal break, the polymer insulation encapsulating the series of planar wooden connectors with the polymer insulation being reinforced by the series of planar wooden connectors. 
 
     
     
       9. The insulated construction member of  claim 8 , wherein each of the planar wooden connectors is made from oriented strand board (OSB). 
     
     
       10. The insulated construction member of  claim 8 , wherein each of the planar wooden connectors is made from plywood.